Every dog has its Bay? Owners lap up concept
SM BEACH — Life’s no beach for Georja Umano Jones and her Jack Russell terriers.
She envisions Marcello and Zucherro running leashless on a lesser-used stretch of Santa Monica’s beach near the end of Arizona Avenue. They could swim, or lay their nuzzles in the sand for an afternoon nap.
But there’s a problem: Dogs are forbidden on Santa Monica beaches. Leashless, they’re allowed on just 57 beaches statewide.
So Jones, a teacher and standup comic, spearheaded a group called “Unleash the Beach,” which aims to set aside the stretch of beach between lifeguard towers 11 and 12, near a storm drain. The group met Saturday to formulate a game plan and will be staging a campaign kickoff event in mid-July.
City Councilman Kevin McKeown, who attended the meeting to offer advice on setting up a grassroots group, said City Hall traditionally has frowned upon leash-free areas because it worried setting up such a space would attract too many additional outside users. That may be less of an issue now, however, as a leash-free area has been set up in Long Beach and organizers are pushing for another area at Dockweiler State Beach.
“It’s no longer a case where we would be the only one,” said McKeown, adding, “The owners would have to take responsibility for their dogs... You can’t put a fence on the beach.”
Jones, who’s lived in Santa Monica for 22 years, plans next to circulate a petition in favor of the leash-free beach. She’s been researching the matter for about a year and has met with some 75 dog owners who like the concept. There are between 4,000 and 5,000 licensed dogs in Santa Monica, organizers said.
“Every county has a dog beach, or multiple dog beaches — except for LA, though now Long Beach has one,” said Jones, who used to stage a comedy show with her dog Marcello on public access television.
Environmentalists worry setting up areas for dogs on the beach could lead to dirtier ocean water, but Jones said those fears have been dispelled at other leash-free areas. Concerns about increased costs or liability also haven’t panned out at other beaches, Jones added.
Moving forward the plan will involve coordinating with several different agencies. The state owns the beach, the city manages it and the county lifeguards are paid to run it. McKeown said City Hall likely would take the lead in any action, and organizers plan to approach it first.
The beach between lifeguard towers 11 and 12 was chosen because it attracts less visitors than other areas of Santa Monica beach, partially because it’s next to a storm drain. Though it’s near a small parking lot, that area doesn’t see the same high level of traffic as other areas.
“Nobody goes there very much, especially during the winter,” said Jones, adding she may be willing to consider a probationary period that limits the hours dogs can use the beach while the program is new. “At least in the winter, we should be able to get full-time.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 15, 2004. Read the original PDF.